Wrapping-machine.



H. R. EVANS.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I'ILED NOV. 1, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

H. R. EVANS.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1907.

Patented Apr. 22, 1-913.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

Ill

HENRY R. EVANS, OF SYRACUSE, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO EVANS-MCDOWELL MACHINERY COIYIPAN'Y, OF -SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WRAPPING-MACHINE.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

. Application filed November 1, 1907. Serial No. 400,176.

To all whom iii may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY R. EVANS, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wrapping-Machines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description. v

This invention relates to certain improvements ,in wrapping machines, and although it is especially adapted for putting up small confections, such as chocolates, caramels and other candies, the various mechanism involved therein are equally useful in inclosing larger articles, such as oranges, lemons, and similar fruits in paper cachets adapted to be twisted at the ends around the inclosed article. These confections are manufactured in strips of considerable length, and one of the essential objects of my present invention is to outer divide these strips into comparatively small sections of uniform size and to inclose them individually in separate packages or paper wrappers, and to automatically twist such wrappers at the ends to conceal and retain the inclosed article therein. In addition to this I have sought to render the several operations continuous or without interruption by causing all of the active cutting, spacing and twisting elements to move continuously in the same direction in synchronism with each other and at the same time toimpart to the twisting devices successively a separate rotary motion whereby the ends of each wrapper are twisted closely to the inclosed confection.

One of the specific objects is to provide a continuously rotating carrier with means for gripping and drawing the strip of paper through the former and simultaneously severing each paper cachet therefrom, and at the same time twisting the ends of the paper package in opposite directions and discharging the completed packet without interruption in the continuity of rotation of the carrier.

Other objects and uses relating to the specific partsof the machine will be brought 50 out in the following description.

In the drawings-Figure 1 isa top plan of a wrapping machine embodying the various features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the machineshown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively enlarged side elevations anda face view of one of the detached grippers, cutters and twisters. Figs. 5 and flare respectively a side elevation partly broken away, and a face view of one of the detached companion cutting and gripping heads, as-

one end of a suitable supporting frame 3, one end of the paper being first drawn by hand upwardly around and over a convex guide 4 and through a suitable former 5 where it is brought into engagement with one of a series of gripping and twisting devices 6 which are secured to the periphery of a continuouslyrotating drum or reel -7, the latter being ournaled upon the supporting frame 3-, said drum being also provided with a series of gripping and holding devices 8-. alternating with the gripping and twisting devices 6 so that when the paper is once connected with one of the gripping devices, the rotation of the drum causes said gripping device to automatically and continuously draw the paper through the former, each gripping device 6 and 8 being provided with suitable cutters for dividing the paper strip containing the confections into sections of suitable length so that their ends may be readily twisted to retain the inclosed confection therein. These confections are usually made in a continuous strip 9-- which is fed forwardly between and is divided into sections by a pair of rotary cutters 10-, said confections falling upon an inclined guide 11 along which they gravitate and are positively fed and spaced a uniform distance apart by a rotary feeding and spacing device 12 The rotation of the reel 2 during the unwinding of the paper roll 1 is frictionally retarded by a suitable brake 13 which serves to keep the paper sufficiently tight while being drawn through the former to prevent its kinking or buckling.

The reel 2 is journaled in one end of the frame 3-- some distance below the corresponding end of the former 5- and the guide .4 is also mounted upon the same end of the frame and is usually flat transversely, its upper end being merged with the rear flat end of the bottom of the former 5.

The drum or reel -7- carrying the gripping, cutting and twisting devices for the paper is mounted on the front end of the frame -3 in such position that when the gripping and twisting devices 6- and --8 are brought into a position directly over the axis of revolution of the drum, their centers are in substantial alinement with the front end of the former which latter is disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and is mounted upon the frame 3 between the drum -7- and reel 2-.

The rotary cutters 10- and the feeding and spacing device 12- are also mounte upon the frame and are driven by suitable power transmitting mechanisms from a main driving shaft -14 which in this instance is provided with tight and loose pulleys -15- and 16 adapted to be connected to any available source of power not shown. ,The drum -7 is also driven by a suitable power transmitting mechanism from the main driving shaft .14- and is, therefore, synchronized with the action of the rotary cutters 10 and feeding and spacing device -12-.

The sides of the former 5- are gradually overturned upwardly toward each other and tapered toward the drum 7-'- for the purpose of folding the sides of the paper upwardly around the sides of the several candy sections -aas they approach the gripping and twisting devices during the rotation of the drum. The strip -9- of candy is in this instance fed horizontally through a suitable guide --l7 between the rotary cutters 10 which are secured to the upper ends of a pair of upright parallel shafts 18, one of which is provided at its lower end with a bevel gear -19- meshing with a pinion 20- on a horizontal shaft -21- which in turn is driven from the shaft 14- by intermeshing bevel gears 22 as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2.

The rotary cutters -10 are disposed in the plane of travel of the candy strip 9 and each provided with a series of in this instance ten cutting blades having their cutting edges disposed vertically and adapted to shear with each other at the meeting faces of the cutters, the cutting edges of said blade being spaced circumferentially a uniform distance apart corresponding to the length of the confection sections into which it may be desired to cut the strip 9 thereby cutting the strip into small confections of uniform length.

The cutters 10 are preferably of uniform diameter and in order that corresponding blades may shear with each other, they must be rotated at the same rate 'of speed and for this purpose the shafts 18 are provided with gears 23 of the same pitch diameter and motion is transmitted from one to the other through the medium of idlers' 2&-- which are also journaled on the frame, whereby the meeting faces of the cutters are caused to travel in thesame direction or toward the feeding and spacing device -12-.

The guide -17 and cutters -10-' are located some distance above the horizontal plane of the former -5 and directly beneath the meeting face of the cutters is located the downwardl and forwardly inclined guide --1l'a ong which the confections gravitate, the front end of the guide -11 terminating a short distance below the lower side of the feeding and spacing device -12- and in close proximity but slightly above the bottom of the former 5- caving a suflicient intervening space to permit the paper to be readily drawn between the lower end of the guide 11 and bottom of the former at which point the candy sections or confections are de osited one by one upon the paper. This ceding and spacing device -12 is for the purpose of feeding and spacing the confections a uniform distance apart upon the paper as it is drawn through the former and preferably consists of a rotary drum or annulus having upon its periphery a series of in this instance ten shoulders or followers 26- corresponding to the number of blades in each of the cutters 10 and spaced a uniform distance apart corresponding to the distance between the centers of the gripping devices 6 and 8, said followers traveling in close proximity to the front sides of the cutters and along the concentric portion of the guide 11, the feeding and spacing device -12- being timed so that each fol- 105 lower -2t5 passes the adjacent side of the cutter just prior to the severing of one of the confection sections so that the latter gravitate successively along the inclined guide 11-- against the preceding follower 110 which permit the confections to gravitate slowly until they are advanced nearly to the end of the guide where the receding confection stops by friction an is positively discharged from the guide by the next suc- 115 ceeding follower thereby depositing the confections upon the paper a uniform distance apart. The portion of the bottom of the former upon which the confections are thus deposited is slightly concave and the sides 120 of this and remaining forward portion of the former gradually taper toward the gripping device and are turned upwardly and inwardly toward each other thereby bending the lon itudinal edges ofthe paper up- 125 wardly and inwardly over and upon the confections thus forming a paper tube containing a series of confections spaced a uniform distance apart.

The gripping devices 6 and 8- are 18:!

I spaced a distance apart corresponding to e distance between the confections in the paper tube as the latter is drawn through the former, the gripping device 6 being rotatable transversely of its orbit of movement around the axis of the drum -7- and is provided with suitable cutters for severing' the inclosed portion of the paper tube thereby serving the treble purpose of ping, twistin and cutting the paper tu while the ot er ripper --8 serves the treble purpose of a gripper, holder and cutter for another adjacent portion of the tube. In other words, the gripping devices 6 and -8 are spaced apart a sufficient distance to receive between them the portion of the paper tube in which the confection is lodged and, therefore, said gripping devices grip the portions of the paper tube at each side of said confection, the gripping device 8 serving to hold the adjacent portion of the tube from rotation and at the same time continues to draw the paper through the former while the preceding gripping device 6 is rotated in a manner hereinafter described to twist the portions of the paper tube at opposite ends of the inclosed confection, these several 'operations being effected during the continued rotation of the drum -7.

Referring again to the feeding and spacing device l2, it will be seen upon reference to Figs. 1 and 2 that it is mounted upon a horizontal shaft 30 which is driven by anluprightshaft 31 through the medium of intermeshing gears 32, said upright shaft deriving motion from the shaft 21- by similar intermeshing gears 33 so that the feeding and spacm device is synchronized with the action 0 the rotary gripping and cutting device. The drum-7 is alsomountedupon a horizontal shaft -34 which is driven from the main driving shaft 14 through the medium of an auxiliary shaft 35-- and inter-meshing gears 'B6 and -37.

Each ripping and twisting device 6 preferably consists of a hollow cylinder journaled at its ends in suitable bearings 38 and divided into unequal segments -40 and 41,.the segment 40 be ing greater than a semi-circle while the segment 41- is less than a semi-circle and is hinged at 42- to one of the meeting edges of the segment 40 and its free edge is adapted to close upon the opposite meeting edge of the segment to form a complete circular drum. The bearings 38 also consist of a segment of a circle greater than a semi-circle and less than length of segment -40- open at the top to receive and retain the cylinder sections 40 and 41 in operative position against radial displacement and at the same time permitting said sections when closed one upon the other to rotate freely about the axis of the cylinder independently of the orbital movement about the axis of the drum 7--, the axes of the cylinder being at substantially right angles to that of' the drum and the.

opposite sides of the central shearing'blades' 4A-- and -45 as best shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 and by full lines in Fig. 4.

The shearing blade 44:-- is rigidly secured in the larger cylindrical segment 40- with its shearing ed e nearly diametrical while the other s caring blade .45 coactin therewith is rigidly secured to the inner si e of the smaller cylinder section -41- and cobperates with the shearing blade 44- to cut the paper tube transversely when the cylinder segments are being closed down one upon the other in a manner hereinafter described. 1

Associated with each of the shearing blades 44 but at opposite sides thereof is a pair of the gripping jaws 46 which are pivoted at 49-- to the inner face of the cylinder segment 40 some distance below the shearing edge of the blade --44, said gripping jaws 46- being spring pressed toward the segment -4:1- by suit-- able sprin s 50. In like manner the shearing 1) ads 45 has associated therewith a pair of oppositely disposed gripping jaws 47- which are rigidly secured to the inner face of the segment -41 and when this latter segment is closed upon the segment 40, the jaws -46- and-'-4:7 are caused to impinge against 0 posite faces of the paper tube at one end 0 the confection which is inclosed therein, either coacting pair of jaws gripping the paper with suflicient force (dependent u on the tension of the spring 50) to rmly hold the paper tube and draw it through the former as the drum --7 is rotated or until the paper tube is further caught and held by the gripping device 8 The meeting faces of the gripping jaws 46-- and 47, when the segments 41 are closed upon the segments 40, are close to the axis of the cylinder and thus grip and flatten the adjacent portion of thetube.

As the drum -7- is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow -X, Fig. 2, the upwardly movin segments 41- are open and the open sldesof'the lower segment 4() are alined with and face the overlying portion of the paper tube so as to permit said lower segment 40, to embrace the adjacent portion of the paper tube as it travels upwardly toward a posi-.

tion nearly over the axis of the drum 7,'

- the segment -41 being opened and held open during the upward movement of the, gripping device by a suitable track 51 by a second cam or track 53- acting against the projections 52, the cams 51 and 53 being so arranged as to cause the segment 4l to close upon the inclosed portion of the paper tube at about the same time that the cylinder reaches the point directly over the axis of the drum 7 when it is in direct alinement with the former.

As soon as the segments 40 and 41 are closed upon the paper tube at which time the coacting gripping jaws -4G- and 47. are also in action and the shearing blades 44F and --45 have severed the inclosed portion of the paper tube transversely, the cylinder consisting of the segments --40- and 41 together with.

' the grippers and cutters therein are rotated about the axis of the cylinder, such rotation being effected through the medium of-a series of spiral teeth-----. and intervening grooves 56 into which the roller projections -52 together with another series of roller projections 58 projecting from the periphery of the segment 40- enter successively. That is, the projections 52- and 58 are spaced a uniform distance apart and the spiral grooves -56 and teeth 55 are arranged at such a pitch that as the first projection 52- leaving the track --53 rides in the first groove 56, the next succeeding projection 52- will be caused to ride in the next groove and in this manner the successive projections enter successive grooves and cause the cylinder to make one or more, in this-instance four, complete revolutions during substantially one-third of the revolution of the drum '7-.

The gripping and holding devices 8 which alternate with the gripping and twisting devices 6, each preferably consists of a pair of hollow cylindersorrings 59 and -59 and a similar but somewhat narrower interposed ring 60-, the latter being rigidly secured to the periphery of the drum 7 while the rings 59 and -59 are pivoted at their lower sides at 62- to the head 61 and are automatically drawn toward opposite sides of the ring 60 by a retracting spring 63' asbest seen in Fig. 5.

It will be seen upon reference to Fig. 2 that at least two of the twisting devices 6 at opposite sides of. the intervening gripping device 8 will be in action at the same'time and that such twisting action and 59'- being returned to their normal posit-ion toward the sides of the center ring 60 as soon as the se ents are opened to allow the disc arge of the completed packet or cachet. Each of the rings --59 and ----59-- i divided above its horizontal diameter forming segments 6'4- and 65-- of unequal length, the segments "64 being greater than a semicircle while the segments 65- is less and are both quite similar to the segments --40 and- -'-41 respectively of the twisting and gripping device previously described. In like manner the rigid center ring 60 is composed of segments 66 and 67- of substantially the same circumferential dimensions respectively as the segments -64 and 65 the latter segments being hinged at 69- to each other while the segments 66- and 67 are similarly hinged at 70, the swinging axes of the smaller segments 65 and "-67- being substantiallycoaxial.

Each segment 64 is provided with a pair of gripping jaws -7 1 which are spring pressed upwardly by a suitable spring -72+ and their gripping faces are located approximately. in the diametrical plane of the segment 64 while the upper segments 65 of each ring are provided with rigid gripping jaws 73 pro- 1 0 'jecting inwardly and radially therefrom and havi'n' their imier faces adapted to contact wit the gripping jaws 71, one pair of the coacting gripping aws nearest the preceding gripping and twisting device serving to grip and hold one end of the wrapper containing one of the confections while being twisted by the twisting device while the other pair nearest the former serve-to grip and to draw the paper tube through said former, it being understood that "the last named gripping jaws are brought into action before the wrapper sections are severed from the main body.

The intermediate ring sections 66 and -67-- are provided respectively with shearing blades 75- and 76-, the latter closing down upon the shearing blade 75-+- just after the succeeding gripping jaws 7 1 and -73 engage the adjacent port-ion of the paper tube sothat the latter jaws obtain a firm grip u on the adjacent end of the paper tube be ore thelatter is severed from the tube by the preceding shearing blades +75- and 76-.

In order that the segments 66 and 67 may be opened and closedsimultaneously with and at the same time permitting the rings 59 and 59'- to rock axially upon their pivots 62-, I provide the segments -67 with a pair of parallelarms -8l extending in opposite directions therefrom and embracing the adjacent portions of the segments 65, said parallel bars constituting guides for the segments -G5 and at the same time looking them to the segments 67- against independent movement about their swinging axes 69 relative to the segment 67:

As soon as the twisting segments 40 and 41 cease to rotate after leaving the spiral toothed rack 55 during the revolution ofthe drum 7- at which time the segment 40 is brought to its normal position with its open side facing outwardly the segment '4l begins to open by reason of the engagement of the shoulder 52 nearest its free end with the track --90-- and in order to prevent turning of the segment 4() in its bearing '48 during this opening of the segment 41, one of the shoulders or rollers 58 nearest the open side of the segment 40 is caused to engage in the concentric groove of a curved track 77 which extends from the end of the toothed rack 55- aroundthe opposite side of the drum and upwardly to nearly the top side of said drum so as to positively hold the segment -40 against turning in its bearing while the segment -4t1 is held open by the track '51 to permit the entrance of the tube into the open side of the segment --40 whereupon the segment 41 is closed by the track 53 and the operation previously described repeated, the closing of the segments 41 being aided by suitable coil springs 78 as best seen in Fig.- 3. In like manner the segments 65 of the gripping devices 8 are closed by suitable springs 79 as best seen in Fig. 5 and through the medium of the guide arms -8l these springs operate also to close the segments 67 of the center ring 60--.

In operation, the candy strip -9 is fed by hand to the rotary cutters -10-- which feed and out said strip into small confections, the latter dropping upon the inclined guide 11- and are fed and spaced apart a uniform distance upon the moving paper strip which latter has been previously drawn through the former and engaged with one of the gripping devices. The machine now being in motion and assuming that the advance end of the paper tube has been previously position nearly directly over the axis of the shaft 34- care being taken when first attaching the paper tube to the gripping device to locate the portion of the tube containing the confection substantially midway between the adjacent gripping devices -6 and 8. Now as the paper tube is drawn forwardly by the rear jaws 46 and 47- of the gripping device 6 just described, the succeeding gripping device '8- will be advanced in an open position to receive the overlying portion of the pa er tube until a shoulder 80 on the mova 1e segment 65 is brought into engagement with the cam track 53 whereupon the segment 65-- is closed down upon the segment 64' and the opposite pairs of jaws 71- and 73- will grip the paper tube at opposite sides of the interposed shearing blades 75 and 76, the latter-serving to sever the paper tube between the opposite pairs of gripping jaws. As

and 41 of the gripping and twisting device 6 begins to rotate around its own axis by reason of the successive engagement of the shoulders 52 and 58 with the spiral shoulders 55- which are arranged concentrically around the axis of the drum 7 and are continued suiticiently to produce one or more in this instance four complete revolutions of the twisting cylinder when the latter returns to its normal position shown in Fig. 4 and the segment 41- is opened by a cam track 90 and is held in its open position by the track 51- which forms a continuation of the track 90, the gripping and twisting device 6 being nowv in a position to repeat the operation just described. In like manner when the following gripping device 8 which is closed during substantially one-third of the revolution of the drum 7, is opened when its shoulder 80 comes in contact with the track 9() thereby permitting the completed or twisted wrapper containing the confection to be discharged at the low side of the drum, the segment 65 ofthe gripping device is held open for a repetition of the o eration previously described, it being un erstood that each coacting pair of gripping devices 6 and 8 performs the same operation in the same manner.

The followers 2G travel betweenthe front sides of the cutters 10'- and their movement is timed so as to engage and force the severed confections from the cutters as soon as they are severed thereby actin as plungers to positively feed the confections from said cutters along the inclined guide -11-.

What I claim is:

1. In a wrapping machine, a former, means for drawing a continuous sheet of paper through the former and comprising a continuously moving gripping device having an independent rotary movement for twisting the paper, coacting means for effecting' such independent rotary movement, and additional means moving with the gripping device for cutting the paper transversely.

2. Ina wrapping machine, means for feeding a continuous strip of paper, mechanism for depositing articles to be wrapped upon said paper uniform distances apart, means for folding the edges of the paper over and upon said articles, said feeding means comprising continuously moving grlpping devices rotatable transversely of such continuous movement for twisting the paper containing said articles, means moving with the gripping devices for severing the paper transversely at regular intervals, and means coacting with the feeding means for rotating the gripping devices as they are successively brought to a predetermined position.

3. In a wrapping machine, a continuously rotating drum and actuating means therefor, said drum being provided with a series of transversely rotatable gripping and twisting devices, and means coacting with the drum for rotating said devices transversely.

Y 4. In a wrapping machine, a rotary drum and actuating means therefor, a series of gripping. devices rotatably mounted upon the drum and composed of segments, one of which is movable relatively to the other for receiving the paper between the segments, and additional means for closing said segments one upon the other and for rotating them 'relatively to the drum for twisting a portion of the paper therein.

5. In a wrapping machine, a continuously rotating drum and actuating means therefor, in combination with a-plurality of rotary twisters mounted upon the drum and each provided with a movable section, means moving with the drum for feeding the paper within the sections as they are successively brought to a predetermined point during the rotation of the drum, means for opening the movable section just prior to presentation at such point, additional means for closing said sect-ion upon the paper, and further means for rotating the twisters after each section is closed upon rotation of and separately from the the paper and during the rotation of the drum.

6. In a wrapping machine, a continuously rotating drum and actuating means therefor, a series of gripping devices secured to the drum and each provided with a movable section, means for successively opening the movable sections as they are presented at a given point in their travel with the drum, additional means for closing said sections immediately after passing such point, a series of rotary twisters alternating with the gripping devices and also mounted upon the drum, and means for rotating said twisters during the rotation of the drum.

7. In a wrapping machine, a continuously rotating drum, a series of gripping devices mounted on'the drum and each provided with movable sections for permitting the entrance of the paper thereto, means for closing said section upon the paper as the drum is rotated and a twisting device mounted upon the drum between the gripping devices for engaging and twisting the portion of the paper between said gripping devices.

8. Ina wrapping machine, the combination of a continuously rotating drum, a plurality of paper gripping and holding devices mounted upon and rotating with the drum, each gripping device being provided with a movable section, means for opening said sections as they are presented to a given point during the travel'of the drum, additional means for closing said sections after passing such point for gripping the intervening portion of the paper, a series of rotary twisters mounted on the drum and alternating with the gripping devices, and means for rotating said twisters durin the rum.

9. In a wrapping machine, a continuously rotating drum having gripping jaws rotatable transversely of the direction of movement of the drum for feeding a strip of paper and twisting it transversely.

10. In a wrapping machine, in combina tion with a former, and means for drawing the paper through the former including a rotary drum and gripping devices mounted on the drum with means for opening and closing the gripping devices on the paper at' regular predetermined intervals, and additional mechanism also mounted on the drum for severing the paper in sections and twist ing the ends of said sections.

11. In a wrapping machine in combination with a former, continuously moving means for feeding a strip of paper through the former comprising gripping jaws moving in one direction and rotatable transversely to such direction of movement, and additional gripping devices moving in the same direction with said jaws.

12. In a wrapping machine, in combination with a former, rotary means for drawing the paper through the former, mechanism for feeding and depositing the articles to be wrapped on to the paper while being drawn through the former, additional means moving with the rotary means for cutting the paper into sections at one end of the article, and further means also moving with said rotary means for twisting the ends of p the paper around each article. i

' 13. In a wrappin machine, in combination with a rotary rum, a twisting device mounted upon the drum and rotatable at right angles to the axis thereof.

, bodily about an axis and having a separate rotary action at right angles to said axis.

16. In a wrapping machine, a twisting device comprising a rotary cylinder movable bodily about one axis and having independent rotary motion about another axis at right angles to the axis of the cylinder, said cylinder being divided into segments, and means. for opening and closing one of said segments during the rotation of said cylinder about the first named axis.

17-. In a wrapping machine, a gripping and holding device comprising oppositerings movabletoward and from each other and each provided with a pair of gripping jaws for receiving and gripping the paper in combination with a gripping and twisting device for twisting said paper while held in the first named gripping device.

clamps on the frame, means for engaging the clamps to automatically open and close them at certain points in the rotation of the frame, means for feeding wrapping material to the clamps, cutting means for severing the wrapping material into wrappers, means for twisting each wrapper between clamps, and means for depositing an article to be Wrapped into each wrapper before said wrappers-are twisted.

20. A wrapping machine comprising a rotary frame, clamps consisting of co-acting jaws arranged in pairson the periphery of the frame, means for holding the jaws shut, a cam with which the clamps engage, said cam opening the clamps, a means for feeding wrapping material, means for depositing articles to be'wrapped in the wrapping material, and a tumbler to seize and twist the wrapping material within each pair of clamps.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of October 1907.

' HENRY R. EVANS.

-Witnesses:

' H. E. CHASE,

C. M. MoCoRMAoK. 

